All Big Companies In The Philippines Need Security Managers

Via Wikimedia Commons.

The “private sector” is never as clean and faultless as its slick corporate marketing suggests. More so in developing countries like the Philippines where a yawning gap prevails between compliance and ethics. For Adsum Risk Consulting (ARC), a boutique security provider with a heritage going back three decades, the ugliness can be disheartening. Simply put, corruption and crime are permanent bugs that every organization must deal with.

For ARC’s founder John Walker, whose previous life as a special investigator for the US military prepared him for the rigors of risk consulting, it takes nuance and methodology to beat workplace crime. Here are his prescriptions.

The Threat

Beyond physical security, a persistent threat to small and large companies alike are financial shenanigans by employees. According to Walker, the highest percentage of crimes in any workplace is usually theft by the rank and file where anything not nailed down can–and will–be stolen. Of course, money is the most common target. The motivations vary from case to case, but the damage is real. Based on his experience, employees and even leaders who are committing either fraud or theft aren’t caught until subtle irregularities are noticed. One startling clue that betrays criminal employees is “unexplained wealth” that impacts their lifestyles choices.

Red Flags

Walker believes an organization’s leadership must be attuned to indicators that betray crimes done from within. These span the mundane, like missing vouchers and records, to the complex, such as unexplained changes made on budgets and contracts. But the surest sign that trouble is afoot in any business are lost assets. If equipment ranging from office supplies to vehicles are missing, a company must immediately find out why.

When vast conspiracies are involved, however, like the sudden release of excessive funds, management and human resource personnel need to decide if an investigation is in order. Without an in-house security professional at hand it’s best to hire a risk consultant who can find the source of the problem

Size Matters

Running a tight ship is a headache for any large organization, especially one that has thousands of employees. Walker believes a set of principles can ease the burden for managers. The first is appointing a designated head of security who possesses experience and the right qualifications for the job. Second is establishing company policies that are understood and enforced in the workplace. Third, managers need to be proactive when dealing with aparrent crimes since the resulting damage can be mitigated.

A vital aspect of deterring criminal behavior is thorough due diligence and screening for prospective employees. Based on his experience in the Philippines, Walker is convinced background checks are severely lacking in most corporate offices.

Get The Right People

Organizations that don’t invest in their security can end up in deeper trouble when their bottom line is harmed by any number of risks. With partners like ARC, whose consultants have decades of experience behind them, broad and comprehensive solutions are available to deter the worst that can happen. For investigations, ARC has expertise in due-diligence and fraud. This means its consultants know how to check addresses and find out if a prospect is lying about their credentials. In a business environment where things aren’t what they seem, ARC is an ideal tool for protecting a company’s reputation.